Just finished the roof to go over the western red cedar garden gate I recently built and hung last week. Lots of firsts here. Only the second gate I've built.
The gate itself is 2.25" thick with wedged through tenons (slip tenons, cut with horizontal slot mortiser) at rail and stile intersections. Perpendicular white oak dowels driven through the tenon secure the slip tenons on the rail side. The biggest challenge was squaring up the gate, essentially around the pivot of the center circle. With advice from Creekers on router templates to perfectly mate the parts and strategies for a complicated glue up, as well as close attention to detail, the 53" x 77" gate came out perfectly square. Dead on. Have to admit I was preparing myself to settle for a 16th or so out.
Several folks suggested using epoxy for longer open time on this complex glue up (Over 100 mortises including dominoes). I went with TB3, pregluing one side of the dominoes and staging the entire process as much as possible. Still, the hydraulic lock I got on one of the 3/4" x 5" x 9" slip tenons nearly took a sledge hammer and pipe clamps to overcome. There was panic. And cussing. Lots of cussing. Next time, epoxy. I've since schooled myself in epoxy which I used on a number of roof elements to get the hang of it.
Working out some design details here for a fancier double-door Japanese Garden Gate entrance for our front yard (stepped barge boards, cambered ridge with cutback ends). Gates themselves will be more traditional. This one was an exercise in how far I could go, skill set building, and incorporation of circles into design. Stainless steel latch (cause there is no way I can afford bronze) and gate stops go on today.
Thanks to all here who offered helpful advice during the process!!!
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Originally Posted by Frederick Skelly
